Folding vehicle-step.



S. P. FAIRCHILD. FQLDING VEHICLE STEP, APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. 1911.

Patented June 4, 19m

wow Mica J7 fa ir i c6 fa'n added SAMUEL r. FAIRCHILD, or SHERIDAN, MONTANA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. FAIRGHILD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheridan, in the county of Madison, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Vehicle- Steps; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art,to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

.This invention is an improvement in vehicle steps and has particular reference to a folding step for railway cars.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved step the main section of which is supported in its operative position by the pivotal connection between the same and the riser section of the" step.

Another object is the provision of a step of this character which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, readily applicable to railway cars or other vehicles of known construction and effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the step constructed in accordance with the invention and with the foldable step in its operative position. a i

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the step in its inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the riser section of the step.

In the drawing the numeral 10 indicates the usual stationary steps of a railway car to the underside of the lowermost of which are secured the brackets .11 having bearings 12 for supporting the pivot rod 13 to which the riser section 14: of the foldable step is pivoted. Said section is provided upon its upper edge with bearings 15 receiving said rod 13 and the lower edge ofthe section intermediate its ends is likewise provided with a bearing 16 extending in the opposite direction from the bearings 15 and has mounted therein the pivot rod or pintle 17 the ends of which extend a distance beyond the ends of the "section and are provided Specification of Letterslatent.

FOLDING VEHICLE-STEP.

@Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed October 12, 1917. Serial No. 196,227.

with heads 18, the projecting ends of said rod having sleeves 19 mounted thereon for a purpose which will laterappear.

The tread section 20, of the foldable step.

section is provided with a bearing 22 which receives the rod 23 having its ends projecting beyond the ends of said bearing and provided with heads 24:.

One of the stationary steps 10 has pivoted thereto, by bearings 25, a U-shaped hanger 26 the side arms 26 of which depend on each side of the steps and have their free ends pivoted to supporting links 27. The forward ends of these links are pivoted to the ends of the rod 23 between the ends of the bearing 22 and the heads 24. and the portions of said links adjacent said pivot points engage the sleeves 19, when the step is in operative position, and thereby support and securely maintain the main section of the step in horizontal position.

One of the side arms 26 of the hanger has preferably secured thereto an operating lever 28 which extends upwardly so as to be within easy reach of the operator and by swinging said lever about the bight portion of the hanger 26 as a pivot it will be apparent that the foldable step may be adjusted to its operative and inoperative positions. Means are further provided for retaining the lever 28 in its adjusted positions and this means preferably comprises a block 29 secured to an adjacent support and having its ends beveled as indicated at 30 and adapted to be engaged by said lever after the step has been adjusted to either position, it being understood that in order to disengage the lever from said beveled ends the same is made resilient so that it may be sprung outwardly.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a plurality of stationary steps; of a foldable step including a riser section pivoted to one of the stationary steps, a tread section pivoted to said riser LOO for sald riser and tread sections When the same are in their operative positions.

2. Ina device of the class described, the co nhination with a plurality ofstationary steps; of foldable' step including a riser section having its upper edge pivoted to the lovverinost stationary step atits outer edge to proyide abearing, a tread'section for theii'oldahle stephaving its rear edge provided Withhearingsengageable on each side of the bearing of-said'riser -section,a

pivot rod' extendin through a said bearings Copies. Ofgtllifi patent may be obtained for and having its ends projecting beyond the ends of, said sections, links pivoted to the forward edge ofsaidtread section and engageahle vvith the projecting ends of said p vot rod when the foldable step is not in n rativanesi a hanger p e l said stationary steps and pivotally connected-"to said links, and a levehsecured to said hanger and operated to swing the same about its pivot whereby, to adjustsaid ifoldahle step to operative andfinoperative positionsi In testimony whereof, I aili'x my signature in the presence OfiZWO Witnesses.

A RQHILD Witnesses Boron),

R. RASSIUR,

five cents each, by addressing the dommissionemoiiratents.

Washington, D; 03" i 

